10 things to know about the Cincinnati Bengals

They are hot: The Bengals enter the playoffs having won seven of their last eight games. They beat traditional division heavyweights the Ravens and the Steelers this season. Baltimore still won the division, but Pittsburgh missed the playoffs. Cincinnati’s only loss in its last eight games was a 20-19 setback to the Cowboys.
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They are hot: The Bengals enter the playoffs having won seven of their last eight games. They beat traditional division heavyweights the Ravens and the Steelers this season. Baltimore still won the division, ... more

Photo: Don Wright / Associated Press

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Young players are making a big difference: Second-year receiver A.J. Green, a 2011 first-round pick out of Georgia, has produced outstanding numbers and become one of the best receivers in the NFL with 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns. He scored a touchdown in nine straight games, from Week 2 through 10. In the past six weeks, though, Green has had only one touchdown.
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Young players are making a big difference: Second-year receiver A.J. Green, a 2011 first-round pick out of Georgia, has produced outstanding numbers and become one of the best receivers in the NFL with 1,350 ... more

Photo: Don Wright / Associated Press

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Defense leads the way: They have had touchdowns in three straight games. The Bengals have set a club record with 51 sacks this season. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins has 121/2 sacks, defensive end Michael Johnson has 111/2 sacks. It’s the first time since 1981 that the Bengals have had two players with double-digit sacks. The defense ranks sixth in the league in yards allowed — 12th against the run and seventh against the pass. less

Defense leads the way: They have had touchdowns in three straight games. The Bengals have set a club record with 51 sacks this season. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins has 121/2 sacks, defensive end Michael ... more

Photo: Al Bello / 2012 Getty Images

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The Bengals have a four-game losing streak against the Texans: The streak includes two losses last season. On the other hand, Cincinnati was 6-2 on the road this season, which tied a team best.

The Bengals have a four-game losing streak against the Texans: The streak includes two losses last season. On the other hand, Cincinnati was 6-2 on the road this season, which tied a team best.

A top-flight runner: Although Cincinnati’s rushing offense is middle-of-the-road, ranking 18th in the NFL, BenJarvus Green-Ellis has had a career season with 1,094 rushing yards. The Bengals could be without this crucial piece on Saturday. Green-Ellis suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warmups on Sunday, and his status is uncertain. less

A top-flight runner: Although Cincinnati’s rushing offense is middle-of-the-road, ranking 18th in the NFL, BenJarvus Green-Ellis has had a career season with 1,094 rushing yards. The Bengals could be without ... more

Photo: Mel Evans / Associated Press

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The Texans have struggled on offense: The Texans scored one touchdown in three red-zone chances on Sunday against the Colts, and that is a category in which the Bengals have success. Cincinnati is
18-of-31 on scoring touchdowns once entering the red zone. It also has held opponents to five touchdowns in 17 red-zone chances. less

The Texans have struggled on offense: The Texans scored one touchdown in three red-zone chances on Sunday against the Colts, and that is a category in which the Bengals have success. Cincinnati is
18-of-31 on ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy / Associated Press

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The Bengals have taken chances on players with spotty pasts, and they’ve paid off for the franchise: Vontaze Burfict, whose character was questioned so heavily in the draft process that he went unselected, had one of his best games of the season on Sunday. Cincinnati also took a chance on Adam “Pacman” Jones, who was on probation when he was drafted sixth overall by the Tennessee Titans and then was arrested again after being drafted in 2005. Given another chance, Jones is now seventh in the league in punt returns, averaging 11.6 yards per return. less

The Bengals have taken chances on players with spotty pasts, and they’ve paid off for the franchise: Vontaze Burfict, whose character was questioned so heavily in the draft process that he went unselected, ... more

Photo: Michael Keating / Associated Press

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This is new for the Bengals, just as it is for the Texans: It’s the first time in 30 years Cincinnati has made back-to-back playoff appearances. More telling, it’s the first time it has done it in non-strike-shortened years. less

This is new for the Bengals, just as it is for the Texans: It’s the first time in 30 years Cincinnati has made back-to-back playoff appearances. More telling, it’s the first time it has done it in ... more

Photo: Tom Uhlman / Associated Press

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Quarterback Andy Dalton has a penchant for turnovers: Dalton has played well as one of six first-or-second-year quarterbacks who have their teams in the playoffs. But Dalton, a Katy native, became the first Bengals quarterback to throw an interception in eight straight games to start the season. He has 16 interceptions this season. Dalton has also been sacked 44 times. less

Quarterback Andy Dalton has a penchant for turnovers: Dalton has played well as one of six first-or-second-year quarterbacks who have their teams in the playoffs. But Dalton, a Katy native, became the first ... more

Photo: Andy Lyons / 2012 Getty Images

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The Bengals overcame a 3-5 start to make the postseason: Since 1990, 131 teams have started 3-5, and only nine of them have made the playoffs. This season, the Washington Redskins also started 3-5 and made the playoffs, making this the first time in NFL history that two 3-5 teams recovered for a postseason berth. less

The Bengals overcame a 3-5 start to make the postseason: Since 1990, 131 teams have started 3-5, and only nine of them have made the playoffs. This season, the Washington Redskins also started 3-5 and made the ... more

Photo: Tom Uhlman / Associated Press

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10 things to know about the Cincinnati Bengals

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Facing a rematch of last year’s first playoff game in franchise history, the Texans know their opponent fairly well. The Cincinnati Bengals’ key pieces haven’t changed, but they are a year older and had success in an aging AFC North.

The new Bengals rely on defense and youth, and they are heading into the playoffs with momentum.

“I think it will be the biggest challenge we’ve faced in the last four weeks,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “They’re a lot different this year.”

Here’s what you need to know about the Bengals heading into Saturday’s game:

1. They are hot: The Bengals enter the playoffs having won seven of their last eight games. They beat traditional division heavyweights the Ravens and the Steelers this season. Baltimore still won the division, but Pittsburgh missed the playoffs. Cincinnati’s only loss in its last eight games was a 20-19 setback to the Cowboys.

2. Young players are making a big difference: Second-year receiver A.J. Green, a 2011 first-round pick out of Georgia, has produced outstanding numbers and become one of the best receivers in the NFL with 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns. He scored a touchdown in nine straight games, from Week 2 through 10. In the past six weeks, though, Green has had only one touchdown.

3. Defense leads the way: They have had touchdowns in three straight games. The Bengals have set a club record with 51 sacks this season. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins has 121/2 sacks, defensive end Michael Johnson has 111/2 sacks. It’s the first time since 1981 that the Bengals have had two players with double-digit sacks. The defense ranks sixth in the league in yards allowed — 12th against the run and seventh against the pass.

4. The Bengals have a four-game losing streak against the Texans: The streak includes two losses last season. On the other hand, Cincinnati was 6-2 on the road this season, which tied a team best.

5. A top-flight runner: Although Cincinnati’s rushing offense is middle-of-the-road, ranking 18th in the NFL, BenJarvus Green-Ellis has had a career season with 1,094 rushing yards. The Bengals could be without this crucial piece on Saturday. Green-Ellis suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warmups on Sunday, and his status is uncertain.

6. The Texans have struggled on offense: The Texans scored one touchdown in three red-zone chances on Sunday against the Colts, and that is a category in which the Bengals have success. Cincinnati is 18-of-31 on scoring touchdowns once entering the red zone. It also has held opponents to five touchdowns in 17 red-zone chances.

7. The Bengals have taken chances on players with spotty pasts, and they’ve paid off for the franchise: Vontaze Burfict, whose character was questioned so heavily in the draft process that he went unselected, had one of his best games of the season on Sunday. Cincinnati also took a chance on Adam “Pacman” Jones, who was on probation when he was drafted sixth overall by the Tennessee Titans and then was arrested again after being drafted in 2005. Given another chance, Jones is now seventh in the league in punt returns, averaging 11.6 yards per return.

8. This is new for the Bengals, just as it is for the Texans: It’s the first time in 30 years Cincinnati has made back-to-back playoff appearances. More telling, it’s the first time it has done it in non-strike-shortened years.
9. Quarterback Andy Dalton has a penchant for turnovers: Dalton has played well as one of six first-or-second-year quarterbacks who have their teams in the playoffs. But Dalton, a Katy native, became the first Bengals quarterback to throw an interception in eight straight games to start the season. He has 16 interceptions this season. Dalton has also been sacked 44 times.
10. The Bengals overcame a 3-5 start to make the postseason: Since 1990, 131 teams have started 3-5, and only nine of them have made the playoffs. This season, the Washington Redskins also started 3-5 and made the playoffs, making this the first time in NFL history that two 3-5 teams recovered for a postseason berth.